🤿 Solo Diving on Koh Chang – Freedom or Unnecessary Risk?

The feeling: real freedom underwater

Imagine floating completely alone over the reef. No hand signals, no “move on!”, no stress. You stay at a spot as long as you want. You move at your own pace – calm, controlled, focused.

That feeling is the appeal of solo diving: absolute independence. But this freedom comes at a price: 100% responsibility – with no backup from a buddy.

Why solo diving at all?

Solo diving is not “anti-buddy”. Many experienced divers choose solo diving because they:

• want full control over time, route and depth
• want to photograph or explore very slowly
• don’t want to depend on a partner’s air consumption or skill level
• prefer consistent self-reliance and clear decision-making

Important: Solo diving is not an “upgrade” for your ego. It is a discipline.

Pro & Contra: Buddy vs. Solo

✅ Advantages of solo diving

• no pressure, no “rushing” – you set the pace
• clear responsibility: you plan, you execute, you decide
• perfect for macro, photo, video and quiet exploration
• strengthens gas management, navigation and self-control

❌ Disadvantages and real risks

• no immediate help with problems (cramp, freeflow, stress, entanglement)
• higher mental load: you must stay capable of action at all times
• mistakes are less forgiving – you need redundancy and routine
• not suitable for many recreational divers (even if they find it “cool”)

Straight Talk: A well-coordinated buddy team is extremely strong in recreational diving. Solo diving can work – but only with preparation and the right setup.

Solo Diver Mindset: self-rescue, not ego

Solo diving means: self-reliant, self-critical, conservative. You need the ability to solve problems calmly – without anyone “pulling you along”.

• Stress & panic management
• clean, conservative decision-making
• routines for checks, gas, navigation, emergency drills
• no “I’ll manage somehow” mentality

Requirements (SDI Solo Diver Standard – overview)

Solo diving is not a beginner idea. For serious Solo Diver training according to SDI, the following typically apply:

• Minimum age: 21+
• Level: Advanced Diver (or equivalent)
• Experience: at least 100 logged dives
• Practice: two training dives with full planning, briefing & debriefing
• Skills: navigation, SMB deployment, conservative planning, emergency switch to redundant air

The goal is not “being alone”. The goal is: recognising risks, creating redundancy, planning cleanly and acting safely.

Mandatory equipment: redundancy is not optional

The biggest mistake: “I have an octopus.” – No. For solo diving you need an independent, redundant air supply.

Redundant air (examples)

• Pony bottle with own regulator
• Twinset with isolation
• Independent doubles
• H-valve (depending on setup)

Additional safety equipment

• SMB + spool/reel (mandatory)
• Surface audible signalling device (whistle / air horn)
• Compass (mechanical recommended) + backup navigation
• at least two cutting tools (line/nets)
• streamlined configuration: nothing dangling, nothing loose
• backup computer (recommended)

Solo setup is not “more gear for more style”. It is functional redundancy so that a single problem doesn’t turn into an abort drama.

Planning & execution: gas management, navigation, contingency plan

1) Dive plan (take it seriously)

• max depth, max time, turn pressure, exit strategy
• conservative: less “what’s possible”, more “what’s safe”
• surface interval & no-decompression limits clearly defined

2) Gas management

Solo means: you plan as if you might have to solve a problem alone at any moment. That means conservative reserves and a clear strategy for your redundant system. Our gas consumption guide explains how to plan your reserves.

3) Navigation

Without a buddy, navigation is not a “nice-to-have” skill. It is mandatory: compass, natural orientation, return route, drift, exit – everything must be solid.

4) Contingency plan

• What do I do in case of freeflow?
• What do I do in case of entanglement?
• What do I do in strong current?
• How do I make a safe ascent + safety stop + SMB deployment?

Solo diving on Koh Chang: does it fit here?

Koh Chang offers stunning reefs, pinnacles and wrecks – but also: variable visibility, local currents and days when you should plan more conservatively.

Solo diving on Koh Chang can make sense when you have:

• very solid navigation and conservative profile
• clear briefing with the boat (briefing, plan, times, SMB procedure)
• suitable site choice (no overhead, no “risky experiments”)
• complete redundant setup

Tip: If you want to get to know our spots, start with the dive sites overview.

When you should NOT solo dive

Straight Talk: Just because solo diving is possible doesn’t mean it is a good idea today.

• Overhead environments (e.g. wreck penetration)
• Decompression dives
• strong current / poor surface conditions
• poor visibility + complex navigation
• when you are not mentally 100% calm & focused

FAQ – Common questions about solo diving